Heart of Texas Today

Heart Of Texas Today January-February 2016

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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

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Heart Of Texas Today Jan-Feb 2016

C O N T E N T S

Publisher Alice Sadler Graphics Golden Monkey Productions

5 Why your Employees have Limited Health Insurance Options In 2016 7

Head Writer David Blackburn

2016 Real Estate Market

Contributing Writers 9

CWJC Kerr County Heart of Gold Scholarship

Kelly Dooley 12 Can Babies Be Disipline?

14 Discovery In The Desert

David LeMeilleur

18 Happy Valentine’s Day

Denise LeMeilleur

20 Hill Country Jamboree

Lainie Johnson

22 Me-Ma’s Secret Recipe Punch 26 Volunteer Volunt Services Council For Kerrvi State Hospital Kerrville 28 Winter Recipes

TD Cooper Todd E. Peter Cover Photo Andrea Stanford

www.heartoftexastoday.com 830-370-9257 www.he The opinions Th i i expressed in Heart Of Texas Today are those of the advertisers or writers.

Are not necessary those of this magazine.

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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

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Residential Lots & Land 4.24 ACRE BUILDING SITE IN HUNT! $UHD RI QLFH KRPHV +2$ ULYHU SDUN DQG DFUH area for hiking, birding, etc.

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2016 Real Estate Market

by Kelly Dooley, Realtor ÂŽ

$FFRUGLQJ WR DUWLFOHV FROOHFWHG E\ WKH +RPH %X\LQJ ,QVWLWXWH WKH 8 6 UHDO HVWDWH PDUNHW ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR EH strong in 2016. A few of the housing market forecasts and SUHGLFWLRQV IRU LQFOXGH +RPH SULFHV ZLOO ULVH PRUH VORZO\ LQ PRVW 8 6 FLWLHV 7KH ELJJHVW KRPH SULFH JDLQV ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR EH LQ WKH West.

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The contents of this article are the opinion of Kelly Dooley, a professional real estate agent with Sherman & Co., RealtorsÂŽ in Kerrville, Texas. Other professional real estate brokers and agents may disagree or have other views.

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

7

You don't have to be an expert to know that preventive maintenance is the best way to make sure your vehicle is running properly. Call us at 895-2888 to schedule a free Multi-Point Inspection for your vehicle, our ASE Technicians have the skills, knowledge and combined experience over 100 years to know how to maintain todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vehicle.

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CWJC KERR COUNTY HEART OF GOLD SCHOLARSHIP As a company, LeMeilleur’s RV Truck & Equipment is known for fixing vehicles, what we are really doing is building relationships. We build relationships with our Customer’s by how we take care of their vehicle, when we do what we say we will do and by being trustworthy. We know in today’s complex world building relationships takes time and a team of great employees. As employers we strive to place value and trust with our team, knowing at the end of the day they will promote the same principles of trust, mutual investment and mutual benefit for our Customers. So we look to hire only the Best to work for us and over the course of time we build long term relationships and lasting friendships with our Employees. We have built our firm around the belief this makes us a stronger Company.

Many of our customers knew our Employee, Rachel Fillingame, she was known for her ease in conversation with complete strangers, she always had a contagious smile and witty humor.

Rachel will be remembered for some of her best assets; her great work ethic, cheerful disposition and her determination. Rachel taught us how to be brave when faced with adversity. As a Company we lost a good employee, but more significantly we lost a great friend. At the end of the day our mission is to reinforce we can’t be a strong company without having the best employees.

Rachel lost her battle with a rare autoimmune disease on Monday, March 16, 2015. In honor and memory of her giving spirit, we are so excited to announce the establishment of the "Heart of Gold Scholarship" in memory of Rachel Fillingame, with the Christian Women's Job Corps of Kerr County. Rachel exemplified their mission statement, “Touching the Lives of Some... to Affect the Lives of Many”. This program has transformed the lives of over 363 women, their families and our community.

CWJC provides a safe Christ-centered environment for spiritual, professional and personal growth. This scholarship will financially help women who are attending CWJC to receive job and life training. We are excited to be involved in this organization and to share Rachel's memory with others.

For more information on how you can donate or volunteer please contact, 830-895-3660, or by mail, CWJC KERR COUNTY Heart of Gold Scholarship, 1140 Broadway, Kerrville TX 78028. http://www.cwjckerrcounty.org or by calling LeMeilleur’s RV Truck & Equipment Repair Co. 830-895-2888, P O BOX 291996, Kerrville, TX 78029-1996, rvrepair@hctc.net.

Please make all checks payable to CWJC Kerr County and memo, “Heart of Gold Scholarship”. CWJC KERR COUNTY is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization and all gifts are tax deductible as defined by the IRS. Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

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It’s going to be one of those days.

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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

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210-273-4033 Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

11

Can Babies Be Disciplined?

If you think of discipline as the very best way to encourage your child toward positive behavior, rather than as a reaction to your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s negative behavior, the answer is a resounding YES. You feed your child healthy foods to insure that he will grow into a healthy child.

Discipline is food for the attitude, designed to grow your child into a positive, productive and interactive member of society.

Discipline begins at birth and occurs every time you interact with her. You build this relationship by meeting your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs and responding to his actions with consistency.

Discipline is connecting with your child and growing an interconnected relationship. Your child needs a discipline based relationship to learn limits and receive guidance.

She will feel safe and secure while learning to get along with others and how to live in this world.

Begin disciplining your baby by protecting him from his natural curiosity and lack of judgment by controlling his environment. You do this by removing hazards from his reach. You might cover electrical outlets so that he canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play with them. You might put breakables out of his reach so that he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get hurt by accidentally breaking themâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;just because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s curious.

Infants are not being willfully disobedient. They are simply curious about their world, and they want to explore it.

Developing a routine with your child will help you to develop a relationship of trust with him.

2QFH \RX KDYH WKDW WUXVW HVWDEOLVKHG \RX FDQ VWDUW VHWWLQJ OLPLWV %XW ÂżUVW KH PXVW know he can count on you to meet his every need.

The routine of getting ready for bed is a good example. You establish the pattern of getting ready for bed. Bathing, reading a story, singing a song, feedingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;whatever you want as the routine. Do it in the same order at the same time every day. That routine EHJLQV WKH UHODWLRQVKLS RI \RX EHLQJ WKH DXWKRULW\ ÂżJXUH LQ KLV OLIH $V KH JHWV ROGHU DQG ZDQWV WKH URXWLQH WR FKDQJH \RX DUH WKH DXWKRULW\ ÂżJXUH ZKR PDLQWDLQV WKH FRQVLVWHQF\ RI that routine. This is discipline and setting boundaries.

This is why children who are neglected as infants are considered subject to child abuse.

While they may not die from neglect (although if severe enough, they could), the more common problem is that the neglected child has never had the secure bond of an established routine and so doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t develop an interconnected relationship with his parents, and probably will have relationship struggles later in life, if this neglectful situation is left to continue too long. Remember, discipline is not punishmentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it is encouragement to behave properly.

To learn more, please contact us a www.thepregnancyresourcecenter.org We offer FREE parenting classes, on an individual basis to address whatever concerns you may have about your child â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from conception to age 18.

12

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

Come in and See Us! Jan & Feb Hours ONLY Wed-Sat 10am-5:30PM

Nothing EVER over than $24!

100% of our greeting cards, magnets, candles, and most of our clothing are made in the USA.

This time of the year, We shop for YOU! New items added EVERY Week!

In March, we will be open 7 days a week.

Two reasons why it’s so hard to solve a Redneck Murder: The DNA all matches.

There are no dental records Sad News: Please join me in remembering yet another icon of the entertainment community.

The Pillsbury Dough Boy died yesterday of a yeast infection and traumatic complications from repeated pokes to the belly. He was 71, Dough Boy is survived by his wife, Play Dough, three children, John Dough, Jane Dough, and Dill Dough, plus they had one in the oven.

Services were held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

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13

DISCOVERY IN THE DESERT Chapter One

by David Blackburn The drone of the engines was swallowed by the fury of the wind. The supply plane bucked and pitched like a stallion with his first taste of the halter, yawing from side to side and slamming through the sand filled air with all the power the twin turbo props could muster. Sweat beaded into the pilot’s eyes

as he checked the gauges; the co-pilot was frantically calculating their distance from the airfield and the fuel consumption caused by the resistance of the unexpected storm.

“We’re way off course, Jimmy. These winds are pushing us east and our fuel is way too low.”

“No kidding!! Where in hell did this storm come from anyway? This wind is beating us to death!”

The co-pilot’s heart was in his throat. They were in big trouble. They were hitting so much sand that it wouldn’t be long before the air filters started to clog up. “We gotta get above it, Jimmy. Gotta get on top of it!”

The pilot agreed, but it was too late. They were beyond maximum weight and the ferocity of the storm was too much for the overloaded plane. The port engine began to cough, then sputter. With a final gasp, it was gone.

“Damn it,” cursed the pilot. The plane lurched and the cargo of acetylene tanks strained against the webbing that held them in place. He struggled to compensate for the loss of power, but there was no way the starboard engine alone could keep them in the air, not in weather as bad as this. “We’ve had it, Bryan! We’re gonna have to park it somewhere!”

Landing in the desert at night with no visibility and only one engine—sweet Jesus, the co-pilot thought. He began to broadcast a distress call to anyone who might hear them.

“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! This is Pennzoil Four Alpha Tango; we have lost port engine and must

14

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

attempt emergency landing. Position is approximately latitude twenty nine degrees twelve minutes north and longitude twenty five degrees twenty minutes east. Repeat, Pennzoil Four Alpha Tango, attempting emergency landing. Mayday, Mayday, Mayday!”

The pilot’s arms shuddered violently as he tried to hold the plane steady during their descent. The storm continued to pound the plane unmercifully and it veered suddenly to the left. A section of the webbing in the cargo area gave way and several acetylene tanks broke free and bounced towards the starboard side of the compartment. One struck the floor with enough impact that it fractured the valve and the volatile gas began escaping into the plane.

The co-pilot screamed, “God O’ Mighty, Jimmy!”

Then the starboard engine stalled. The plane began to drop like a house brick and the desert rushed to meet them as if it had been waiting for them all their lives. The desperate pilot thought that a wheels up landing might give them a chance; maybe if they had a shallow enough angle they could slide far enough and long enough and come to a halt before hitting anything solid. Maybe they could even walk away from it, maybe there was a chance; maybe, maybe, maybe. The co-pilot was in tears and saying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please God, oh please!”

They hit the desert floor with the force of a freight train. The plane began to break apart and the sparks from the twisting metal instantly ignited the gas filled fuselage. Pennzoil Four Alpha Tango exploded in a fireball that illuminated the night sky for miles, the sound of the explosion drowning out the roar of the sandstorm for a brief moment. The flames of the burning plane were fanned into an inferno by the raging wind for over half an hour, and then the desert began to cover the tragedy in a blanket of sand.

The morning sun reflected its’ rays in the lens of the pilot’s sunglasses. The helicopter made a wide circle, surveying the destruction below. The skeletal remains of Pennzoil Four Alpha Tango gave little indication that only a few short hours before, two skilled men had given their lives to the desert’s fury as they lost their battle with the winds and sands of the Sahara. Two good men that the pilot had known and worked with for years in many remote locations around the globe. Two men who were his friends–now gone forever.

“Jesus, will you look at that,” said the older man in the second seat. “There’s practically nothing left of it. The poor bastards.” He shook his head in resignation and sadness. The pilot glanced at him briefly as he tightened his circle and began his descent. The rotors created a tiny storm of their own as the helicopter settled onto a small plateau that overlooked the scene of the crash and the Egyptian military personnel who were sifting through it. The plane’s fuel and the acetylene tanks had burned the fuselage almost completely; the tail section, the engines, the mangled nose, and about a third of each

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2015

wing was all that was recognizable. The bodies of the pilot and co-pilot, or what little remained of them, had already been removed by the Egyptians. Bobby cut the helicopter’s engine and climbed out, ducking his head to avoid the blades. An Egyptian army officer came to meet them.

“Captain Davis?”

“Call me Bobby. This is Tommy Baldauf. We came as soon as we heard.” He shook hands with the officer.

“I am Major Alshufi. We were told to expect you. As you can see, there is nothing salvageable from the wreckage. We have transported the remains of the crew to the airbase at El-Shamir. A terrible tragedy.”

Bobby looked at the twisted and melted metal. “Thank you, Major. We’d like to look around a bit if that’s all right.”

“Of course. Please let me know if I may be of service.” The Major turned and walked back to his jeep while Bobby and Tommy continued to look over the wreck site. Both had seen their share of accidents and mishaps; that was more common that people thought in the overseas oil business, where rules and safety margins are not as clearly defined as they are in the States. This one, though, was by far the worst. They had been sent to salvage any company property that was still usable, but there was nothing left of any value. Bobby began walking to what was left of the nose section of the plane.

“Damn, Bob,” sighed Tommy. “How in the hell did they end up all the way out here? Must be at least 400 miles off course, at least. Jimmy was a fine pilot; I can’t figure it.”

“Must have been trying to dodge the storm, skirt around it, maybe. I know they were behind schedule and Johnson was hollering for that load of tanks. Probably overweight, too, but nobody’ll ever say that out loud. Little mistakes, one or two bad judgement calls; that’s all it takes.”

Bobby raised his camera and got two shots of the nose section, then moved out towards the right wing. He made a methodical and systematic record of the site from every angle, knowing the Lybian field office and headquarters in Houston would want as much detail as possible. The sun was getting higher in the sky and the heat was becoming more intense; sweat started to soak through Bobby’s shirt. He moved to the top of a small hill to get a wider shot when he noticed something in the distance.

About three hundred yards to the southwest were a series of small mounds that looked unusual.

Bobby used the zoom and tried to get a better look; they appeared to be mounds about three feet high and were arranged in a rectangular pattern. He called to the older man, "Tommy....Come up here for a minute.”

Tommy was at least fifteen years older and his shirt was already soaked through; it looked like someone had sprayed him with a garden hose. He huffed and puffed his way to the top of the rise and asked, “What is it, Bob?” He looked down at the plane, trying to see whatever had captured Bobby’s attention.

“Over there, past the tail section, about 300 yards. What is that?”

“What?”

“Those little mounds, or whatever they are. Looks like little piles of something. What is that?”

“Damned if I know,” Tommy said, breathing hard after his short hike up the hill. “What difference does it make? Ain’t got nothing to do with the crash. Ask that major, he’ll probably know.”

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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

“Yeah, I’ll bet so.”

Bobby clicked off a few shots of the anomaly and began to walk towards it. By the time he covered the three football fields worth of sand, he was feeling the desert’s heat. He approached the first small mound and saw that it was a pyramidal pile of stones. He picked one up and examined it as best he could with the sweat stinging his eyes and blurring his vision. The stone looked more like a chip; it had sharp edges on two sides and did not appear to be a natural formation. He picked up a few more and observed the same configurations. He raised the camera and began shooting the field of mounds, which stretched from the depression in which he stood all the way into the dunes about sixty yards away. He examined several more mounds and pocketed a handful of stones. He snapped off about twenty more shots, then turned and walked toward the location of Major Alshufi, who watched as his men conversed with a group of locals who appeared from a nearby village, obviously curious about the plane crash the night before.

The officer was sitting in his jeep drinking tea from a Thermos as Bobby approached. “Major, can I ask you something?”

“Certainly, sir. Do you have the photographs that you require?”

“Yessir, I do. And I want to thank you for all your help. The company will arrange for the bodies to be transported back to the States as soon as possible and we want to reimburse your government for any expenses you incurred in the investigation of this crash. We appreciate your courtesy and professionalism.”

The Major smiled and replied, “Thank you, Captain. Assisting your company and your government is a service we are most happy to provide, although the circumstances are regrettable. The bodies will be made available as soon as the autopsies are completed. How else may I help you?”

"Nothing to do with the crash, sir; you’ve been a great help with that. Just a minor curiosity. When I was photographing the wreckage, I noticed some debris over in that direction. Just wondered if you could tell me what it is.” Bobby flashed the zoomed image onto his digital camera screen and handed it to the Major.

The Egyptian studied it with no real interest and said, "The desert produces many unusual shapes and features, Captain. The winds are the artist and the sands are the canvass here; the Western Desert is filled with many such things. It is of no consequence.”

“Well, thank you, sir. I was just curious. Thank you again for everything. Take this card; it has my contact information. If either I or the company can ever assist you in any way, please call me.”

“I will do so. Again, I am truly sorry for the loss of your crew. Such a thing is always tragic.”

Bobby shook the Major’s hand once more and said, “Very tragic, sir. I knew these men. They will be missed.” He retrieved his camera and made his way to the helicopter, where Tommy was waiting.

“Tommy, I want you to take us up. I want to get some aerial shots of the skid path. Then I want you to circle out towards the southwest without it being too obvious to anyone on the ground so I can get some shots of that area where the rock piles are. Okay?”

“You’re the boss, Bobby. I’m just here for ballast.” With that, both men climbed aboard the helicopter and Tommy started the engine, sending up a flurry of sand as the whirlybird launched itself into the air.

Tommy circled the crash site three times in an ever widening pattern then expanded his fourth circle to include the mound area while Bobby snapped the shutter like there no tomorrow.

Discovery in the Desert Chapter Two will be in the March-April 2016 Issue

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

17

+DSS\ 9DOHQWLQH¡V 'D\ There is more money spent on boob jobs & viagra than on Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research, which means by 2040 the elderly will have perky boobs, stiff willies and no idea why.

Husband is walking behind his wife and says â&#x20AC;?Your bottom is getting so big, It looks like an old washing machineâ&#x20AC;?

The wife keeps quite And keeps on waking.

Bedtime comes around and the husband starts to get amorous. Wife says â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not starting the old washing machine for such a small loadâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;You better do it by handâ&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all you have to know about men & women: Women are crazy, men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid.â&#x20AC;?

George Carlin

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Marriage is like a deck of cards, In the beginning all you need all times the length of the thumb.

3HRSOH VD\ ORYH LV The femur is as hard as concrete. you need is 2 hearts WKH EHVW IHHOLQJ A womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart beats faster & a diamond. By %XW , WKLQN ILQGLQJ than a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Women blink 2X the end, you wish D WRLOHW ZKHQ \RX as much as men. We use 300 you had a club & DUH KDYLQJ GLDUUKHD muscles just to keep our balance a spade.

LV EHWWHU when we stand. A man is still looking at his thumb.

When someone is murdered, The police investigate the spouse first.

And that tells you everything you need to know about marriage Í&#x2DC;

18

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

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,KhZ^͗ DŽŶĚĂLJͲtĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ ϭϬĂͲϱƉ͕ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ϭƉͲϴƉ͕ LJ ƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚ džĞĐƵƟǀĞ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ͗ >ĂŝŶŝĞ :ŽŚŶƐŽŶ භ ĮƌƐƚĐŚŽŝĐĞƌŚ͘ĐŽŵ භ ĨĂĐĞŬ͘ĐŽŵͬĮƌƐƚĐŚŽŝĐĞƌĞƉƌŽĚƵĐƟǀĞŚĞĂůƚŚ Heart of Texas Today | January - February

19

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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

These Companies Are Willing to Help !!!

Won’t You??? Π

WůĞĂƐĞ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ ƵƐ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͊​͊​͊ ,ŝůů ŽƵŶƚƌLJ :ĂŵďŽƌĞĞ Ͷ W͘K͘ Ždž ϭϮϳϰ Ͷ /ŶŐƌĂŵ͕ dĞdžĂƐ ϳϴϬϮϱ Ͷ ϴϯϬͲϰϱϵͲϬϰϱϮ Ͷ <ĞůůLJ ΛŽŵŶŝŐůŽďĂů͘ŶĞƚ

Me-Ma’s Secret Recipe Punch By TD Cooper On the Saturday before Valentine’s Day the folk of Parson’s nose always had a big party at the VFW Hall on the third floor of the old Masonic Building. The highlight of the event was my Me-Ma’s famous punch. She only made it once a year and it was only for the Valentine’s Party. It was famous throughout the county.

The dance, the biggest event of the Parson’s Nose winter season, was attended by all who could walk.

Everybody got all dressed up and the Women’s Club worked their fingers to the bone in the week before, making sure everything was perfect.

Every lady, and quite a few gentlemen, was preparing a special treat for the event. Candies, cookies, cakes, finger sandwiches, Miss Annie’s chicken perloo with olives, Cooter Mill’s famous swamp cabbage stew which he got from his brother over in Florida. It was a special day and everybody went men, women, boys, and girls, young, old—even if you couldn’t dance you wouldn’t miss it if you were still breathing.

And the centerpiece was the enormous punchbowl Me-Ma filled with her special Valentine’s Day Punch. I know it had pineapple juice, maraschino cherries and orange juice (made from her own trees) plus a lot of ginger ale. I also know she colored it with what I thought at the time was the most exotic of liqueurs— Grenadine.

22

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

But what made it special were her secret ingredients. Some were spices but I think the really, truly best part of her secret was she bought really good brandy to go with a couple of mason jars of Melvin Bryant’s, 2 year old, aged in an oak barrel, moonshine.

Everybody wanted at least one cup of that punch, except us kids. We weren’t allowed to taste it but some found a way—no names mentioned but I know that’s what got my friend JD tipsy when we were in the 8th grade. His mother thought it was food poisoning but that’s another story.

Anyway, Mrs. Titus, Mrs. Woodrow B. Titus (Valine to her friends of which there were few) wanted to make that punch. She wanted to be at the center table, the limelight of everyone’s eye, as she served her punch. So every year she tried to reproduce it. She did pretty well a couple of times but she never really came anywhere close. She usually ended up humiliated, pouring most of it down the sink in the kitchen of the VFW Hall.

But that year, in January, Me-Ma got a call from her sister Mattie who had moved back to Otter Water to be near her daughter, Pearl. Well, Pearl had just popped out some babies, and I mean plural as in three.

They needed help until they could hire somebody so Me-Ma got packed and ready to go.

Everybody knew she was leaving but the funny part was Mrs. Titus offered to come over and check on things, you know, be sure the plants were watered, the cat fed—stuff that I normally had to do. She didn’t volunteer to feed the chickens though. That was still mine.

The strange thing was Me-Ma agreed. At the bus station, waiting for the bus to take her to the coast, Me-Ma said, “TD, I know what Valine is planning. She’s going to rummage around my house until she finds the recipe for my Valentine’s Day Punch.

“And,” Me-Ma said. “I made it real easy for her to find it—and I hope she follows the recipe exactly.

She’ll be the center of attention for sure.”

Mrs. Titus must have found the recipe on the first day she looked because she called my mother and told her she wouldn’t be able to check on things any more on account of her sciatica so I ended up doing everything, just like I always did.

A couple of weeks later Me-Ma was back. ‘cause Pearl had found a helper. Everybody settled in to the cold part of winter, waiting for Valentine’s Day. Time passed and in a few weeks I was helping Me-Ma mix up her punch in the kitchen, putting in the crushed pineapples, boiled sugar water and squeezing the oranges when Me-Ma said, “I was right, TD. Valine is going to make punch again this year. I do hope she copied my recipe right.”

“You gonna let her make it, Me-Ma?” I asked.

“Oh yes, TD. I’m looking forward to it.”

24

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

She started measuring out her spices and then we scooped the punch out of the washtub and into gallon bottles. My Uncle Wallace, who had a gas station and ran the ice house, came over later and took the bottles over to his place to keep them cold until the big day.

Finally it came. Everybody was all dressed up. My Father and I had shined our dress up shoes the night before so we’d look really spiffy, especially since we were going to be wearing coats and ties. My mother got a big corsage from my father and my brother cried because he didn’t want to go.

But we got there and it was better than ever. Hearts hung off of fishing line from all over the ceiling and nobody cared if once in a while the tape came loose and one or two drifted down onto the dance floor. The tables were covered in plates and bowls, filled with the world’s best food nestled in among the greenery and red plastic hearts of the Women’s Club decorations.

Me-Ma was at her punch table—punch bowl, cups and silver ladle courtesy of Mrs. Cyrus Butterfield— while Mrs. Titus was at her punch table, bowl, cups and ladle courtesy of Mr. Titus.

They both were adding last minute touches to their bright red intoxicants. Me-Ma was pouring a pale amber liquid (her secret mixture) from the gallon jugs she had brought while Mrs. Titus confidently poured into hers an amber liquid from a gallon milk container then added a couple of scoops of some kind of white powder.

The two ladies smiled across the room at each other until Mrs. Titus started screaming. Her red punch had started frothing and growing, pouring out of her punch bowl and running all over the place. It just kept foaming and swelling. Mrs. Titus was covered with red foam. She totally lost it when she yelled across the room, “You old Witch. Look what you’ve done. You’ve ruined everything.”

Me-Ma stood there in total shock and amazement at what had happened and how Mrs. Titus was behaving. After everything got cleaned up and the Doctor gave Mrs. Titus something for her nerves Me-Ma began serving her special, not to be reproduced, punch.

After the bowl was empty and me and JD were helping her clean-up she said. “You know, TD. I left that recipe where Valine would have no trouble finding it and I really thought maybe I did wrong. But you know, even a 6th grader has the sense to know that vinegar and baking soda will foam up and erupt like a volcano.

Maybe next year she’ll make brownies or something.”

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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

25

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Car show for Pre 2000 Vehicles Indoor at the Kerr County Youth Events Center Kerrville Texas, February 20, 2016, 9:00 to 2:00 6KDWWHU WKH 6WLJPD &RPPXQLW\ (YHQW &DU 6KRZ )HE .HUU &RXQW\ <RXWK (YHQWV &HQWHU %HQHILWLQJ WKH SDWLHQWV RI WKH .HUUYLOOH 6WDWH +RVSLWDO

Car show for Pre 2000 Vehicles

Indoor at the Kerr County Youth Events Center

Kerrville Texas, February 20, 2016, 9:00 to 2:00 Registration begins at 8:00 am, Pre-entry $30, postmarked by February 10, 2016

After February 10th $35 Fee payable at registration

The Volunteer Services Council mission is to contribute to the quality of life of individuals with mental illness served by Kerrville State Hospital. The VSC provides goods, services and personal attention to the patients beyond what is available through state funding. It is our goal to give these patients hope in their journey to recovery as they receive treatment for their mental illness.

Mental illness affects about 1 in 4 adults â&#x20AC;&#x201C; approximately 61.5 million Americans experience mental illness in a given year. It is the goal of the Volunteer Services Council that by raising awareness to the public a higher value will be placed on recovery and the quality of life that a person with a severe mental illness can achieve. Another goal is to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shatter the Stigmaâ&#x20AC;? of mental illness by recognizing mental illness â&#x20AC;&#x153;Knows No Boundariesâ&#x20AC;?. For more information please call 830-896-2211 ext. 6150, Caryn Talarico or 830-459-3366 Mac Anderson.

The Volunteer Services Council is classified as a 501(c)3 organization by the IRS and your donations and contributions are deductible as provided in Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Registration begins at 8:00 am, Pre-entry $30, postmarked by February 10, 2016 After February 10th $35 Fee payable at registration The Volunteer Services Council mission is to contribute to the quality of life of individuals with mental illness served by Kerrville State Hospital. The VSC provides goods, services and personal attention to the patients beyond what is available through state funding. It is our goal to give these patients hope in their journey to recovery as they receive treatment for their mental illness.

Mental illness affects about 1 in 4 adults â&#x20AC;&#x201C; approximately 61.5 million Americans experience mental illness in a given year. It is the goal of the Volunteer Services Council that by raising awareness to the public a higher value will be placed on recovery and the quality of life that a person with a severe mental illness can achieve. Another goal is to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shatter the Stigmaâ&#x20AC;? of mental illness by recognizing mental illness â&#x20AC;&#x153;Knows No Boundariesâ&#x20AC;?. For more information please call 830-896-2211 ext. 6150, Caryn Talarico or 830-459-3366 Mac Anderson.

The Volunteer Services Council is classified as a 501(c)3 organization by the IRS and your donations and contributions are deductible as provided in Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.

26

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

VOLUNTEER SERVICES COUNCIL FOR KERRVILLE STATE HOSPITAL

The Volunteer Services Council (VSC) is a separate non-profit organization which supports the volunteer program and patient activities which cannot be funded or sponsored by state funds. Volunteer programs have been an important part of Kerrville State Hospital for almost as long as the hospital has been in existence. Volunteers are actively involved in providing many special items and activities for KSH patients.

Some of the activities and projects funded by the VSC are; Birthday gifts, computers for use by patients, Christmas gifts and related holiday activities, personal grooming items and clothing accessories, cash assistance for those without financial resources, and clothing through our Buy-Gones resale shop for patients. The VSC provides housing on KSH grounds for family members.

If you are looking for opportunities to volunteer they can also use help with the patient library, working the resale shop, assisting with campus wide special events, by sponsoring a birthday, holiday or Christmas party, providing live music for special events, assisting staff with clerical work and by serving on the VSC board.

As a non-profit all of the funds to provide these types of activities come from fund raising, solicitation and monetary gifts. If you would like more information on volunteering, making a donation or to arrange for a visit or to have one of our board speak at your event, please contact Caryn Talarico, Director of Community Relations at 830-896-2211, ext. 6150.

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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

27

ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛKW\bS`ÛFSQW^SaÛ 8SZWQW]·aÛ<O[ÛO\RÛD]bOb]Û G]·^Û 1/3 cup diced celery 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 3/4 cup diced cooked ham 3 1/4 cups water 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper, or to taste 5 tablespoons butter 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 cups milk Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately. 6 Servings

Û 9[^bfÛKOZZSbÛ7OaaS`]ZSÛ 1 pound ground beef salt and pepper to taste 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning 2 teaspoons minced garlic 2 teaspoons dried thyme 2 tablespoons butter 1 small onion, sliced into thin rings 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms 3 large potatoes, thinly sliced 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup 20 saltine crackers, crushed 1 pinch paprika, for garnish Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).Crumble the ground beef into a large skillet over medium heat. Season with salt, pepper, cumin, garlic, poultry seasoning, and thyme. Cook, stirring to crumble, until evenly browned. Drain, and transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish, or large casserole dish. Arrange 2 layers of sliced potato over the ground beef, seasoning each layer with salt and pepper. Melt butter in the skillet over medium heat, and sauté the onions and mushrooms until tender.

Spread over the top of the potatoes.

Stir just enough water into the soup to make it pourable, and spoon over the top of the casserole, making sure to spread out evenly. Scatter the cracker crumbs over the top, and sprinkle with paprika. Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake for about 1 hour in the preheated oven, until the potatoes are soft. Remove the aluminum foil, and return to the oven to brown the top, about 10 minutes. 5 Servings

28

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

7VWQYS\ÛB]]RZSÛ7OaaS`]ZSÛ 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 6 ounces egg noodles 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup Campbell's Condensed Soup Cream of Mushroom 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup 1 cup sour cream salt and ground black pepper to taste 1 cup crumbled buttery round crackers 1/2 cup butter Poach chicken in a large pot of simmering water. Cook until no longer pink in center, about 12 minutes. Remove from pot and set aside.

Bring chicken cooking water to a boil and cook pasta in it. Drain. Cut chicken into small pieces, and mix with noodles. In a separate bowl, mix together mushroom soup, chicken soup, and sour cream. Season with salt and pepper. Gently stir together cream soup mixture with the chicken mixture. Place in a 2 quart baking dish. Melt butter in a small saucepan, and remove from heat. Stir in crumbled crackers. Top casserole with the buttery crackers. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 30 minutes, until heated through and browned on top. 6 Servings

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Microwave potatoes in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 5 min., stirring after 2-1/2 min. Stir in broth and milk. Microwave 10 min., stirring after 5 min. Carefully smash potatoes with potato masher. Reserve 2 Tbsp. each bacon and cheese, and 1 Tbsp. onions for topping. Stir remaining bacon, cheese and onions into soup.

Serve topped with sour cream and reserved ingredients. Serves 4

9OafÛ:`WSRÛ9UU^ZO\bÛ 2 Tablespoons canola oil 1 large eggplant 3 eggs, beaten 2 cups dry bread crumbs Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in crumbs, and place in hot oil.

Fry 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.

Drain on paper towels. Tip: aluminum foil can be used to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make clean-up easier.

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016 29

AO`UO`WbOÛ7OYSÛ 1 (18.25 ounce) package orange cake mix 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix 4 eggs 1/2 cup vegetable oil 2/3 cup water 1/4 cup tequila 2 tablespoons triple sec liqueur 1 cup confectioners' sugar 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 tablespoon tequila 2 tablespoons triple sec liqueur 2 tablespoons lime juice Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.

In a large bowl combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, water, lemon juice 1/4 cup tequila and 2 tablespoons triple sec. Beat for 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes; remove to rack and pour glaze over cake while still warm. To make the glaze: In a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar with 1 tablespoon tequila, 2 tablespoons triple sec and 2 tablespoons lime juice. Mix until smooth.

12 Servings

ÛÛÛ KO`[Û8]·PZS|7V]Q]ZObSÛD·RRW\UÛ Custard layer: 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup egg substitute 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons evaporated fat-free milk 1 1/2 ounces semisweet baking chocolate (such as Hershey's), chopped Cooking spray Cake layer: 3 ounces dark-chocolate candy bar (such as Hershey's), chopped 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup egg substitute 1/4 cup applesauce 6 tablespoons frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed Preheat oven to 325°. To prepare custard layer, combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup egg substitute, stirring well with a whisk. Cook the milk in a small, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat to 180° or until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil). Remove from heat; add semisweet chocolate, stirring until chocolate melts. Gradually add hot milk mixture to sugar mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk.

Pour the hot milk mixture into 6 (4-ounce) ramekins or custard cups coated with cooking spray. Place ramekins in a baking pan; add hot water to pan to a depth of 1 inch. Bake at 325° for 30 minutes or until almost set.

Remove from oven; cool in pan 30 minutes. Remove ramekins from pan; drain water.

To prepare cake layer, place dark chocolate in a small glass bowl. Microwave at high 2 minutes or until almost melted; stir after 1 minute. Set aside. Beat 1/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup egg substitute with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 5 minutes). Add dark chocolate and applesauce; beat until well blended. Pour evenly over the custard layer. Place ramekins in baking pan; add hot water to pan to a depth of 1 inch. Bake at 325° for 20 minutes. Remove ramekins from pan. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon whipped topping

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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2016

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